How We Support You.
Areas of Expertise
Many people seek therapy for concerns related to sexuality, relationships, intimacy, or gender identity. While general therapists can provide support, they don’t always receive specialized training in these areas. Sex therapists have advanced education and clinical training focused specifically on sexuality and gender issues. This expertise helps them understand the complex ways that sexuality intersects with mental health, relationships, culture, and well-being.
At Carolina Sexual Wellness Center, our sex therapists provide affirming care for a wide range of concerns, including the topics listed below. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation call or get started with a sex therapist.
Sexual Dysfunction
Sometimes our bodies don’t work the way society tells us they are supposed to and that can be distressing. You may be experiencing low sexual desire, erectile difficulties, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, difficulty with arousal, orgasm challenges, painful sex, vaginismus, or other concerns. Sex therapy can help you reset unrealistic expectations better understand the physical, emotional, relational, and cultural factors that may be contributing to dysfunction.
Desire Discrepancy in Relationships
It is common for partners to have differing levels of sexual desire/libido. We believe there is not an inherent right or wrong level of sexual desire, and often the discrepancy is exacerbated by lack of understanding of how sexual desire actually works. The goal of therapy is to develop increased understanding and develop a mutually satisfying and pleasurable sexual relationship that aligns as closely as possible with both partners.
Distressing Kinks or Sexual Interests
Many people have kinks or fantasies that fall outside of what society considers “typical” and that can come with intense shame and anxiety. Our work in this area involves identifying whether the thought/fantasy is the issue, or whether the thought/fantasy just exists in a culture that stigmatizes potentially healthy and pleasurable behaviors.
At this time we do not provide evaluations or therapy for individuals involved in the legal system for problematic/illegal sexual behavior.
Out of Control Sexual Behavior
Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB) is a term we use for “sex addiction,” or sexual behavior that feels impulsive/compulsive/automatic, and stopping the behavior often feels frustratingly difficult, or even impossible. We treat OCSB from a sex positive perspective, as we believe that often the behaviors themselves are not the issue but rather what is driving the person to use them in a compulsive way. Therapy can help decrease problematic behaviors by addressing underlying issues as well as to realign sexual behaviors with client’s values.
Trauma
According to the CDC, nearly half of women and more than 1 in 6 men in the United States have experienced some form of contact sexual violence during their lifetime. It’s common, but rarely discussed due to shame, stigma, and societal taboos. Sexual trauma can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including relationships, intimacy, body image, trust, and emotional well-being. Trauma can also contribute to challenges such as anxiety around intimacy, difficulty with trust, pain during sex, low desire, or feeling disconnected from your body.
Sex therapy provides a compassionate space to process your experiences at your own pace and work toward rebuilding a safer and more fulfilling sex life.
Open Relationships & ENM
We live in a society that supports compulsory monogamy, framing monogamy as the default, preferred, and only valid way to structure intimate relationships. While this works well for many people, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to connection. Ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, relationship anarchy, swinging, and other forms of open relationship can offer fulfilling ways of relating, while also bringing unique opportunities and challenges.
Sex therapy can help individuals and partners explore relationship agreements, improve communication, navigate jealousy, strengthen trust, and determine whether non-monogamy aligns with their needs and values. Our goal is not to encourage or discourage any particular relationship structure, but to help you build healthy relationships that work for you.
Sexual Orientation
Understanding sexual orientation is an important step toward authenticity and fulfilling relationships and experiences. While many people are at least somewhat aware of their sexual orientation and attraction at an early age, many make it well into adulthood before recognizing new facets to their sexuality and sexual orientation. We can help you sift through these questions with gentleness and non judgment.
Gender Authenticity
Gender is a fundamental aspect of the self, and when a person’s gender identity (what gender they feel like) does not align with their biological sex (what their body says they are based on genitals, hormones, sex organs, DNA, etc.), it can be a very difficult experience. Gender is complex, and we can help you find authenticity and cohesiveness. We provide therapy for gender dysphoria, as well as evaluations for letters of support for medical transition measures.
Developing a Healthy Sexuality
There is a lot of inaccurate and judgmental beliefs out there about sex and sexuality, which makes determining what a healthy sexuality is challenging. We can help you wade through the misinformation, engage in self-exploration and develop a sex life that is rich and fulfilling. We aim for clients to leave therapy with an improved understanding of what real sexuality looks like in the lives of real people.
Infidelity
When one partner engages in sexual behavior with others outside of the relationship in a way that crosses the mutually agreed upon boundaries of the relationship, strong feelings often arise within the relationship. We can help process the feelings and help clients determine the right outcome for them. We then help facilitate getting to the determined outcome.
Changing Sexuality Over The Lifespan
Our bodies change over the course of our lifetime, and we can help you and your sexual relationship(s) adapt to the changes. Sex should look different at 60 and 70 than it does at 20 and 30, and there is nothing wrong with this. We just need to learn to adapt our expectations and learn how our bodies experience pleasure as we age. We can help with this transition.
Types of Therapy
We offer individual, relationship, family, and group psychotherapy services to address a wide range of concerns!.
Reach Out Today!
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